Short Answer 
Citizen journalism allows everyday people to create and share news, broadening the range of voices in the media landscape. An example is Patrick Mariano, whose coverage of truck drivers supporting an ice candy vendor gained significant attention, highlighting the power of citizen stories. This form of journalism can also address societal issues often overlooked by mainstream media, empowering communities.
Step 1: Understand Citizen Journalism
The foundation of this topic is citizen journalism, which is a form of journalism where everyday people engage in creating and sharing news. Unlike traditional journalists, citizens gather, analyze, and publish news stories, often using social media platforms. This democratizes the news landscape and allows a broader range of voices to contribute.
Step 2: Analyze a Viral Example
An illustrative example involves Patrick Mariano, a Filipino citizen journalist who shared a compelling news story on October 16, 2020. His post focused on a touching incident in Nangka, Marikina, where truck drivers purchased all the goods from an ice candy vendor enduring the rain to sustain her livelihood. This story resonated widely, gaining traction and being featured by major news networks, showcasing how citizen journalism can spotlight significant human-interest stories.
Step 3: Explore Broader Implications
Citizen journalism has the potential to cover a wide range of societal issues that may not be highlighted by mainstream media. Other notable examples could include posts about environmental concerns, such as deforestation, or local political events. This empowers citizens to raise awareness and advocate for change within their communities, proving the significant impact of grassroots reporting.